Chapter 48: Not Only Deciding Superiority, But Also Deciding Life and Death

Hiding his strength? Feigning weakness to launch a sneak attack?

Hearing Pan Jinlong’s description of Jiang Chen, Qin Paojun thought Pan Jinlong was not only a fool, but an absolute moron!

Given Mr. Jiang’s strength as a high-level martial grandmaster, did he need to hide anything in front of Pan Jinlong, a mere low-level martial grandmaster?

It was clearly because this idiot was at too low a realm to perceive just how terrifying Mr. Jiang’s true strength was!

Feigning weakness? Launching a sudden sneak attack?

You bloody well deserve to die!

"General Qin, my father has been utterly loyal to you, and I hold the utmost reverence for you! Not only did this bastard break my bones and severely injure me, but he also snatched my father's gun in an attempt to murder us!"

Pan Yonghui lay on the ground, reversing right and wrong as he glared furiously at Jiang Chen to muddy the waters. "He has insulted you repeatedly and utterly disregards you, a general of the Linzhou Warzone!"

Qin Paojun cast his gaze down at Pan Yonghui. Truly, like father, like son. Were these two idiot fathers and sons competing to see who could court death faster?

For a high-level martial grandmaster to kill a low-level martial grandmaster and an ordinary person, would he even need a gun?

Without even thinking, he knew the gun had been drawn by Pan Jinlong, probably attempting to shoot Mr. Jiang before being disarmed!

For Mr. Jiang to let him handle the internal purging was already showing him the utmost respect!

Otherwise, if Mr. Jiang were to strike his face in public, what dignity would he, a general, have left?

Pan Jinlong had yet to realize the gravity of the situation and chimed in alongside his son, "General Qin, this brat is guilty of heinous crimes and deserves no pity. I beg you to make a move..."

"Slap!"

Qin Paojun struck, delivering a powerful and heavy blow across Pan Jinlong’s face.

Pan Jinlong's mouth filled with blood, which he dared not spit out, swallowing his shattered teeth along with the bloody mixture straight into his stomach.

Everyone present was startled out of their wits, feeling as though their hearts were about to leap out of their throats.

Instead of punishing the violent criminal who seized a weapon, why was General Qin beating Captain Pan instead?

"I am sorry, General Qin! It is this subordinate's incompetence, not only losing the weapon but forcing you to step in and resolve this personally!"

Pan Jinlong bowed ninety degrees with his head lowered, assuming General Qin had struck him because his incompetence had brought shame.

The terrified Pan Yonghui suddenly had a flash of insight. General Qin had always been strict with rewards and punishments, and his father certainly deserved some reprimand. However, the bastard who crippled him deserved to die, and General Qin surely would not let him off lightly!

"Take off that uniform!"

Qin Paojun pointed at the military attire Pan Jinlong was wearing and issued a cold command.

"General Qin, what are you..."

Pan Jinlong asked, utterly bewildered.

"Take off the uniform! I told you to take it off!"

Qin Paojun raised his voice and repeated the harsh command.

Not daring to ask further, Pan Jinlong hurriedly stripped off his military coat and held it in his hands.

"And you two!"

Qin Paojun pointed at his two subordinates who were high-level martial masters, signaling them to do the same.

Moments later, Qin Paojun confiscated the uniforms from the three of them.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Qin Paojun kicked Pan Jinlong and the other two crashing to the ground, then turned to address Jiang Chen with deep reverence. "Mr. Jiang, I have finished purging the internal ranks!"

"From this moment on, Pan Jinlong and his two companions are expelled from the Linzhou Warzone and stripped of their status. You may deal with them however you see fit!"

"According to the rules of the martial arts world, they committed the offense of insubordination against their superior. Even if you execute them on the spot, they brought it entirely upon themselves!"

The three of them lying on the ground felt as though they had plunged into a frozen cellar, tumbling into an abyss of eternal damnation from which they would be smashed to pieces!

The onlookers were frightened out of their minds. General Qin wasn't just punishing Captain Pan; he had actually expelled him from the Linzhou Warzone! Even if he was incompetent, his crime didn't warrant this harsh a punishment, did it?

Suddenly, someone recalled what Jiang Chen had said earlier—that he would let General Qin clean house. Everyone had assumed he was just putting on airs and exploiting someone else's power.

Judging by General Qin's current respectful attitude toward this Mr. Jiang, could this possibly be the legendary awe-inspiring might of a true supreme figure?!

"General Qin, why is this?"

Pan Jinlong asked, unwilling to accept his fate.

The man’s surname was Jiang, not Qin. Even if he was a low-level martial grandmaster, he couldn't possibly surpass a captain of the Linzhou Warzone. What on earth made it worthwhile for General Qin to fire him for this outsider's sake?

"Pan Jinlong, open your ears wide and listen well! Not only is Mr. Jiang a high-level martial grandmaster, he is also the martial medical instructor of my Linzhou Warzone! Killing you would be as effortless as lifting a finger for him!"

Qin Paojun shouted furiously, determined to make Pan Jinlong submit entirely. "You thought Mr. Jiang didn't kill you because he feared you? That was out of respect for me, Qin Paojun, and the Linzhou Warzone!"

"You father and son played a double act right in front of me, deceiving your superiors and concealing the truth, distorting the facts. Do you take me for a blind man or a deaf man?"

Turbulent waves crashed in the hearts of everyone present. The looks they cast at Jiang Chen transformed into sheer terror. This young man was actually a high-level martial grandmaster, even stronger than General Qin?!

"Impossible! I don't believe it!"

Pan Jinlong shook his head in panic, refusing to submit as he issued a challenge to Jiang Chen. "If you have the guts, fight me fair and square! No guns, and no hidden weapons!"

Seeing Pan Jinlong still courting death, Qin Paojun could only silently mourn for him in his heart.

"You want to challenge me? Very well. According to the rules of the martial arts world, not only shall we determine superiority, but we shall also decide life and death!"

Jiang Chen did not refuse Pan Jinlong's courting of death, tossing the three firearms over to Qin Paojun.

"A fight to the death! Exactly what I wanted!"

A ferocious, crazed smile and murderous intent appeared on Pan Jinlong's face.

In his view, Jiang Chen’s advantage lay in utilizing external forces, particularly hidden weapons like silver needles; otherwise, he was nothing more than a fledgling low-level martial grandmaster!

He might have deceived Qin Paojun, but this brat had pulled off an even bigger con. He would rather die than believe Linzhou possessed such a young high-level martial grandmaster, especially since Qin Paojun himself was merely a mid-level martial grandmaster!

"Father, kill this bloody bastard and strip away his disguise in front of General Qin!"

Pan Yonghui roared viciously, equally refusing to believe Jiang Chen was as powerful as Qin Paojun claimed. Only by killing this bastard would his father stand a chance to reclaim his position as captain in the Linzhou Warzone!

"Die!"

Pan Jinlong clenched his fists tight, letting the blood flow freely from the wounds where silver needles had pierced his arms, and charged recklessly toward Jiang Chen with lethal intent.

"Boom!"

The air shattered with a concussive blast as Pan Jinlong unleashed all his internal Qi, gathering it into his fist to blow Jiang Chen's head to pieces.

"Crack!"

Jiang Chen casually thrust out his left hand, grabbing Pan Jinlong's right fist. His true essence crushed the internal Qi, instantly shattering the bones into dust.

"Ah... How is this possible?!"

Pan Jinlong cried out in agony, his face painted with utter shock.

"Crack, crack... Thud!"

With two swift kicks, Jiang Chen shattered Pan Jinlong's kneecaps, sending the man crashing limply to his knees at Jiang Chen's feet.

"Ah... I surrender!"

Pan Jinlong shrieked in sheer terror, his face pale with horror.

He was finally convinced. The opponent was 100% a high-level martial grandmaster, because even General Qin, a mid-level martial grandmaster, could never suppress him so utterly and effortlessly!

"Surrender? Do you think this is child's play?"

Jiang Chen sneered coldly, making no effort to conceal his killing intent. "Since we have determined superiority, it is time to decide life and death!"

"No... Mr. Jiang, spare my life..."

Pan Jinlong begged for mercy, paralyzed by absolute fear.

"Bang... Splash..."

Under Pan Jinlong's gaze of total despair, Jiang Chen brought his palm down upon his head. Instantly, blood spurted from his seven orifices, his eyes glazed over, his life force vanished, and he collapsed lifelessly onto the ground, dead.